Electrically driven heated hair curling or setting device

ABSTRACT

A motor that is adapted to be electrically driven is mounted in a first, hollow housing together with a gear train that is coupled to and driven by the motor through a belt and pulley arrangement. A rotatable, second hollow housing, having at least one elongated, axially extending slot through the wall thereof is releasably coupled to the first housing and is rotatably driven by the output gear of the gear train. One or more combs or brushes, equal in number to and aligned with the slots in the housing, are loosely mounted on a non-rotatable shaft that is eccentrically positioned with respect to the rotational axis of the second housing. When the motor is energized the second housing will rotate concentrically about the longitudinal axis of the output gear and the combs or brushes, because of their eccentric mounting, will be continually moved inwardly and outwardly relative to the outside surface of the second housing. In this manner entanglement of the hair will be prevented. In addition, a single, external lever provides the dual function of both releasing the second housing as well as reversing the direction of rotation of the second housing. A heater, a fan and a thermostat may be included in the first housing in order to heat the comb or brushes.

United States Patent [191 Scivoletto 1 Feb. 4, 1975 ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN HEATED IIAIR CURLING OR SETTING DEVICE Joseph P. Scivoletto, Brooklyn, NY.

[73] Assignee: Malibu Personal Beauty Products,

Inc., New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Aug. 31, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 393,330

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl 132/11 A [51] Int. Cl A45d 24/00 [58] Field of Search 132/11 A, 11 R, 34 R, 36,

Primary Examiner-G. E. McNeill Attorney, Agent, or FirmRoylance, Abrams, Berdo & Kaul [57] ABSTRACT A motor that is adapted to be electrically driven is mounted in a first, hollow housing together with a gear train that is coupled to and driven by the motor through a belt and pulley arrangement. A rotatable, second hollow housing, having at least one elongated, axially extending slot through the wall thereof is releasably coupled to the first housing and is rotatably driven by the output gear of the gear train. One or more combs or brushes, equal in number to and aligned with the slots in the housing, are loosely mounted on a non-rotatable shaft that is eccentrically positioned with respect to the rotational axis of the second housing. When the motor is energized the second housing will rotate concentrically about the longitudinal axis of the output gear and the combs or brushes, because of their eccentric mounting, will be continually moved inwardly and outwardly relative to the outside surface of the second housing. In this manner entanglement of the hair will be prevented. In addition, a single, external lever provides the dual function of both releasing the second housing as well as re versing the direction of rotation of the second housing. A heater, a fan and a thermostat may be included in the first housing in order to heat the comb or brushes.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN HEATED HAIR CURLING OR SETTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to hair curling or setting devices and more particularly to a heated, electrically driven rotating comb or brush.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has been known for some time that by using the combination of heated air and a rotating comb or brush, hair can be more effectively curled or set. However, the prior art devices, that utilize a rotating, heated drum, have not been able to provide the efficiency of either the elongated bristles that are normally associated with a brush or the plurality of parallel teeth that are normally associated with a comb because of the possibility of the hair becoming entangled. One example of a prior art device that is intended to overcome this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. 3,491,774 issued on Jan. 27, 1970 to Anthony Carbone. The issued patent provides a hollow drum that is motor driven and through which heated air may be passed. The drum is provided with a sleeve on the outer surface thereof that is adapted to engage but only apply a frictional tension to the hair. As an alternative embodiment, the patent specification states that the drum may be provided with a multiplicity of small projections or bristles. However, it is clearly pointed out in the patent that the bristles must be relatively short and serve only to increase the frictional resistance with respect to the hair. The aforementioned patent therefore does not teach the use of conventional, elongated teeth or the like or elongated bristles such as are associated with a comb or a brush, respectively.

Still another example of the prior art is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,393 granted on Sept. 29, i964 to William D. Taylor et al. The second example of the prior art discloses, among other things, a rotatable brush head that is driven by a motor. By means of appropriate gearing a shaft is driven eccentrically so as to define a scotch-yoke mechanism for linearally displacing a pair of brush assemblies that are oriented at right angles with respect to each other. The linear movements of the brush assemblies cause the brushes to move in radial directions with respect to the axis of the drum and thereby move through holes formed in the wall of the drum. As the drum rotates the brushes will move in directions that are towards and away from the outside surface of the drum.

Still another example of the prior art is disclosed in Applicants prior application, Ser. No. 323,246 filed on Jan. l2, I97 3. Applicants prior disclosure teaches a construction that structurally distinguishes over the Taylor et al., patent by virtue of the fact that the combs or brushes are loosely mounted on a non-rotatable, eccentrically oriented shaft. The combs or brushes are aligned with and extend through slots formed in the wall of a rotatable housing and are pivoted about the axis of the eccentric portion of the shaft when the housing is rotated through a gear train by'means of a motor. In Applicants prior disclosure a reversible gear train that is positively driven by a motor is described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the first mentioned prior art by providing a comb or row of bristles that are displaced eccentrically about the axis of an output gear in a gear train. The combs are disposed in a slotted housing that rotates concentrically with the axis of the output gear so that the teeth of the combs or the ends of the bristles move inwardly and outwardly under the influence of their eccentric mounting and with respect to the outer surface of the rotatable housing. The combs or rows of bristles are angularly displaced by the slots in the housing and pivot about the axis of the eccentric shaft when the housing is rotated.

The present invention distinguishes over the second mentioned example of the prior art in that the eccentric shaft that supports the combs or rows of bristles does not rotate. Instead, as described above, the slotted, rotatable housing of the present invention causes the comb or rows of bristles to pivot about the axis of the eccentric shaft and thereby be displaced inwardly and outwardly relative to the outside surface of the rotatable housing.

The present invention also distinguishes over Applicants prior filed application by virtue of an improved mechanism that is defined by a single lever which serves the dual function of releasably retaining the ro tatable housing and reversing the rotational direction of the gear train. The present invention substitutes a belt and pulley drive system for a portion of the gear train in Applicant's prior filed application, to thereby provide a clutch-type drive. That is, should an excessive load be applied inadvertently to the comb or brushes the belt will slip on its pulleys. The motor will continue to drive but the housing for the combs or the bristles will not rotate. This construction distinguishes over Applicant's prior filed application which provided a continuous meshing engagement between the gear that drives the comb or brush housing and the output pinion of the motor.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved, electrically driven hair curling or setting device, as described above.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide a device, as described above, that can be rotated either of two angular directions.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means for heating the device while it is being used.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device, as described above, having a single, dual purpose lever that releasesably retains the rotatable brush or comb housing and also reverses the rotational direction thereof. A feature of the present invention is the provision of automatic means that effectively uncouples the drive motor in the event that the brush or comb housing becomes stalled due to an overload thereon.

An advantage of the present invention as described above, is that it is lightweight, conveniently balanced with respect to its weight and easy to handle.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity, and will, in part, become obvious in the following more detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which forms an integral part thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the various figures of the drawing like reference characters designate like parts. In the drawing:

FIG. I is a longitudinal, sectional view, partially schematic. illustrating the construction of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view illustrating the relationship between the combined release and reverse lever and the output gear of the gear train comprising the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another transverse sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, and taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view ofa portion of the combination release and reverse lever;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the rotatable head comprising the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the brush head comprising the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1 there is shown a hair curling or setting device 10 comprising the present invention. The device I0 includes a first, hollow housing 12 having one open end 13. The housing 12, for convenience of manufacture and assembly, may be comprised of two molded plastic halves I and 12b that are suitably secured to each other, for example by means of adhesives, fasteners or the like along a longitudinal joint designated by the reference character 14. A motor 16 is mounted on a pad 18 within the first housing 12 by means of fasteners 20. To provide inlet means for relatively cool, ambient air, the housing half 12a is provided with a plurality of openings 22 therethrough as shown in FIG. 1. A shroud 23 is radially spaced about the outside surface of the first housing 12 to dissipate of the motor l6 and to provide convenient means for holding the device I0. Because of the location of the motor I6 the device 10 is well balanced and therefore is easy to operate.

The output shaft 24 of the motor 20 has mounted thereon a multi-bladed fan 26 as well as output pulley 28. A bracket 30 having axially spaced apart end walls 32 is mounted within the first housing 12 by any suitable means such as for example fasteners (not shown). The bracket 30, and more particularly the walls 32 thereof provide means for journalling a shaft 34 that includes a pulley 36 at one end. A belt 38, such as an O-ring or the like is trained about the pulleys 28 and 36. Thus, the output of the motor is transmitted through the shaft 24, the pulley 28, the transmission belt 38, the pulley 36 and the shaft 34 in order to drive a pinion 40 that is rigidly secured to the opposite end of the shaft 34.

A pair of laterally spaced apart legs 42 are formed integrally with one of the walls 32 and depend downwardly therefrom for providing journal means for a second shaft 44. A pair of crown gears 46a and 46b are rigidly secured to the second shaft 44 and are positioned on diametrically opposite sides of the pinion 40. For purposes of illustration only the crown gears 46a and 46b are shown in a neutral position with neither one of them in meshing engagement with the pinion 40. As

will be explained more fully hereinafter, one of the two crown gears 46a and 46b is always in meshing engagement with the pinion 40 when the device is being operated.

A third shaft 50 is secured coaxially to the second shaft 44 by means ofa sleeve 52 and a pin 54. A plural ity of axially spaced apart shoulders 56, 58 and 60 are provided on the shafts 50 and 54 in order to provide stop means for two compression springs 62 and 64 as shown in FIG. I. The purpose of the springs is to insure that one or the other of the crown gears 46a or 46!) is in positive engagement with the pinion 40. depending upon the direction of rotation required of the coaxial first and second shafts 44 and 50.

The opposite end of the shaft 50 is journalled in a bearing 66 and is also provided with a second pinion 68. A bracket 70 provides means for supporting the bearing 66. A tubular support bracket 72 having a radially outward extending flange 73 at one end thereof is also mounted in the bracket 70 and is rigidly secured thereto .by means of a screw 74. As shown in FIG. I the tubular support 72 also has a spur gear 75 mounted thereon. The spur gear 75 includes an axially elongated hub 76 and a pair of diametrically opposed and axially extending rods 78 integral with one end face thereof. A retaining ring 79, in combination with the flange 73, prevents axial movement of the spur gear 75.

A rotatable second housing 80 which may be molded of a suitable plastic material is releasably received in the open end 13 of the housing 12. The housing 80 is provided with at least one but preferably a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 82 through the wall thereof. In addition a non rotatable crank assembly, generally designated by the reference character 84, is mounted in the second housing 80. The crank assembly 84 is comprised of a pair of coaxial, spaced apart shaft sections 86 and 88 which are mounted in an end wall 90 of the second housing 80 and the tubular support 72, respectively. Intermediate the coaxial shaft sections 86 and 88 and connected thereto by axially spaced apart radial arms 89 there is an eccentric shaft section 92 on which is loosely mounted a plurality of combs 96 as shown in FIG. I. The housing 80, at the open end 97 thereof is positioned within the first housing I2 and is provided with a plurality of radially extending ribs 98 as shown in FIG. 4. for example. The rods 78 that are integral with the gear 75 abut the ribs 98 in order to transmit the rotational movement of the gear 75 to the second housing 80.

In order to releasably retain the second housing 80 and to provide means for reversing the direction of rotation thereof there is provided a combination or dual function lever generally designated by the reference character 100 in FIGS. 2 and 6. The lever 100 is comprised of an external head I02 and a shaft 104 that extends through one of the side walls of the housing 12 as shown in FIG. 2. Internally of the housing l2 the lever 100 is provided with a C shaped section defined by spaced apart side walls 108a and 10811 and a connecting wall III). Depending from the connecting wall H0 is a plate ll2 having an open notch "4 formed integrally therewith. The wall 108a is also provided with a locking pin I16. As shown for example in FIG. 2 a compression spring 118 is positioned between the wall 108a and the internal surface of the wall of the housing 12. The pinion 68 is also provided with an angular recess I20 that is received within the notch 114 of the plate 112.

A heater and thermostat generally designated by the reference character I22 is mounted within the housing 12 intermediate the motor 16 and the second housing 80.

When the motor is energized, either from a selfcontained source or from an external source of power, the fan 26 will draw air in from the outside through the openings 22, and pass the air over the heater 122 into the interior of the second hollow housing 80 in order to direct the flow of heated air to the user's hair. In addition, the motor 16 will drive the shaft 50 through one of the two crown gears 460 or 46b. To effect this engagement, the lever I is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 104 to thereby angularly displace the plate 112. Since the pinion 68 is couples to the plate I12 by means of the notch H4 and the angular groove I20, the shaft 50 and hence either of the two crown gears 460 or 46)) will be displaced axially in accordance with the direction of rotation of the shaft 104. The springs 62 and 64 will serve to maintain engagement between the selected crown gear 460 or 46!; and the pinion 40. Thus, the power from the motor is transmitted through the pinion 68 to the spur gear 75 which thereby rotates the second housing 80 by means of the engagement of the rod 78 and the ribs 98.

As the housing rotates, the slots 82 will bear against the combs 96 causing them to pivot about the axis of the eccentric shaft section 92 and in this manner the combs will move inwardly and outwardly relative to the outside surface of the second hollow housing 80. When it is necessary to release the second housing 80, the lever 100 is depressed in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft I04. This will cause disengagement of the pin 116 from a hole 124 (FIG. formed in the shaft 88. Preferably an elongated slot 126 is formed in the shaft 88 in order to preclude the need for hunting for the hole 124 when the second hollow housing 80 is to be assembled to the first housing 12.

An alternative embodiment on the present invention is shown in FIG. 7. Instead of the combs described in connection with the first embodiment, there is provided a plurality of brushes each having bristles 128 formed thereon. The second embodiment is constructed and operates in exactly the same mode as the first described embodiment so that a further description will not be made at this time.

Still another alternative embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 8. Whereas the first embodiment was provided, as shown in FIG. 3, with two opposed combs 96, the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is provided with four combs 130. The remaining structure of the embodiment of FIG. 8 is exactly the same as that described hereinbefore in connection with the embodiment of FIG. I so that a repetition is not required at this time. It should be noted however that the number of combs (or brushes). shown in FIG. 3 and HG. 8 is for illustrative purposes only. The scope of the present invention is therefore deemed to cover only a single comb or brush and a plurality of combs or brushes as well.

Switch (FIG. 2) is coupled to shaft 104. As lever I02 is moved to left or right from the neutral center position the motor 16 is energized from power conductors 17 through conductors l7 and 17''. For this application switch 15 may be a single pole double throw type.

On the other hand motor 16 may be electrically reversed by using a double pole double throw switch to reverse the polarity of the current to the motor. If the motor is electrically reversed only one gear 460 or 46!; is required with the remaining gear left engaged with pinion 40. Member I12 would be dispensed with.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodi" ment of the invention presently contemplated. However it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrically driven hair treating device comprising, in combination:

a. a first hollow housing;

b. a drive motor mounted in said first hollow housing.

said drive motor including an output shaft;

c. a transmission system coupled to said drive motor through the output shaft thereof. said transmission system including an output pinion;

d. a drive gear rotatably mounted in said first housing and in meshing engagement with said output pinion for said transmission system;

e. a rotatable second hollow'housing mounted in said first housing and coupled to said drive gear for rotation thereby. said second housing including at least one slot extending through the wall thereof;

f. a non-rotatable shaft having first and second end sections mounted in said first housing and said second housing, respectively, and a mid section positioned eccentrically with respect to rotational axis of said second housing;

g. at least one hair treating member loosely mounted on said eccentric mid section of said non-rotatable shaft, the hair treating member being in alignment with and adpated to traverse said slot; and

h. means for selectively changing the direction of rotation of said housing.

2. The hair treating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transmission system includes a first pul' ley mounted on said output shaft of said drive motor, a second pulley spaced therefrom, a belt engaged about said first and said second pulleys, a third shaft driven by said second pulley. a second pinion coupled to said third shaft and driven thereby, a pair of direction selecting gears positioned on opposite sides of said second pinion and adapted to be selectively placed in meshing engagement therewith and a fourth shaft for supporting said direction selecting gears at one end therof and said first pinion at the other end thereof and means for coupling said lever to said fourth shaft whereby when said lever is rotated, said fourth shaft is axially displaced and said direction chaing gears are se' lectively placed in engagement with said second pinion.

3. The hair treating device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said fourth shaft is comprised of two coaxially end to end sections and spring means are further included for biasing said sections whereby said direction changing gears are positively urged into meshing engagement with said second pinion 4. The hair treating device in accordance with claim I wherein said first end section of said second shaft includes an opening therein and said lever includes a pin adapted to selectively engage said opening whereby when said lever is depressed said pin is displaced from said opening in said first end of said second shaft to thereby permit release of said second housing from said drive gear.

5. The hair treating device in accordance with claim 4 wherein there is further included spring means for normally biasing said pin of said lever into engagement through the opening in the first end section of said sec ond shaft.

6. The hair treating device in accordance with claim I wherein said first drive gear further includes a plurality of rod-like members extending axially therefrom and said second housing includes a plurality of radially extending ribs at the end thereof that is mounted in said first housing whereby said rod-like members engage said radially extending ribs for transmitting the rotary motion of said drive gear to said second housing.

7. The hair treating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first housing further includes a heater and said motor includes a plurality of fan blades mounted on the output shaft thereof. said first housing further including openings through the wall thereof whereby ambient air is drawn inwardly and is directed by said fan blades over said heater to thereby heat the interior of said second housing and the hair treating member.

8. The hair treating device in according with claim 4 wherein said first end section of said second shaft further includes and axially extending slot one end of which terminates at said opening whereby insertion of said pin in said opening is facilitated. 

1. An electrically driven hair treating device comprising, in combination: a. a first hollow housing; b. a drive motor mounted in said first hollow housing, said drive motor including an output shaft; c. a transmission system coupled to said drive motor through the output shaft thereof, said transmission system including an output pinion; d. a drive gear rotatably mounted in said first housing and in meshing engagement with said output pinion for said transmission System; e. a rotatable second hollow housing mounted in said first housing and coupled to said drive gear for rotation thereby, said second housing including at least one slot extending through the wall thereof; f. a non-rotatable shaft having first and second end sections mounted in said first housing and said second housing, respectively, and a mid section positioned eccentrically with respect to rotational axis of said second housing; g. at least one hair treating member loosely mounted on said eccentric mid section of said non-rotatable shaft, the hair treating member being in alignment with and adpated to traverse said slot; and h. means for selectively changing the direction of rotation of said housing.
 2. The hair treating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transmission system includes a first pulley mounted on said output shaft of said drive motor, a second pulley spaced therefrom, a belt engaged about said first and said second pulleys, a third shaft driven by said second pulley, a second pinion coupled to said third shaft and driven thereby, a pair of direction selecting gears positioned on opposite sides of said second pinion and adapted to be selectively placed in meshing engagement therewith and a fourth shaft for supporting said direction selecting gears at one end therof and said first pinion at the other end thereof and means for coupling said lever to said fourth shaft whereby when said lever is rotated, said fourth shaft is axially displaced and said direction chaing gears are selectively placed in engagement with said second pinion.
 3. The hair treating device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said fourth shaft is comprised of two coaxially end to end sections and spring means are further included for biasing said sections whereby said direction changing gears are positively urged into meshing engagement with said second pinion.
 4. The hair treating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first end section of said second shaft includes an opening therein and said lever includes a pin adapted to selectively engage said opening whereby when said lever is depressed said pin is displaced from said opening in said first end of said second shaft to thereby permit release of said second housing from said drive gear.
 5. The hair treating device in accordance with claim 4 wherein there is further included spring means for normally biasing said pin of said lever into engagement through the opening in the first end section of said second shaft.
 6. The hair treating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first drive gear further includes a plurality of rod-like members extending axially therefrom and said second housing includes a plurality of radially extending ribs at the end thereof that is mounted in said first housing whereby said rod-like members engage said radially extending ribs for transmitting the rotary motion of said drive gear to said second housing.
 7. The hair treating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first housing further includes a heater and said motor includes a plurality of fan blades mounted on the output shaft thereof, said first housing further including openings through the wall thereof whereby ambient air is drawn inwardly and is directed by said fan blades over said heater to thereby heat the interior of said second housing and the hair treating member.
 8. The hair treating device in according with claim 4 wherein said first end section of said second shaft further includes and axially extending slot one end of which terminates at said opening whereby insertion of said pin in said opening is facilitated. 